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What tis then oun shall we say legō that Abraham Abraam, · ho our hēmeis forefather propatōr according kata to the flesh sarx, has discovered heuriskō about this? For gar if ei Abraham Abraam was justified dikaioō by ek works ergon, he has echō something to boast kauchēma about ( but alla not ou before pros God theos). For gar what tis does the ho scripture graphē say legō? “ And de Abraham Abraam believed pisteuō · ho God theos, and kai it was credited logizomai to him autos as eis righteousness dikaiosynē.” Now de to the ho one who works ergazomai, his ho wages misthos are not ou credited logizomai as kata a gift charis, but alla as kata an obligation opheilēma. But de to the ho one who does not work ergazomai, but de entrusts pisteuō himself to epi the ho one who justifies dikaioō the ho ungodly asebēs, his autos faith pistis is credited logizomai · ho as eis righteousness dikaiosynē. So kathaper also kai David Dauid speaks legō of the ho blessedness makarismos of the ho one anthrōpos to whom hos · ho God theos credits logizomai righteousness dikaiosynē apart chōris from works ergon: Blessed makarios are those whose hos lawless deeds anomia are forgiven aphiēmi, · ho and kai whose hos sins hamartia are covered epikalyptō. · ho Blessed makarios is the man anēr whose hos sin hamartia the Lord kyrios will not ou mē take logizomai into account .” · ho Therefore oun, is this houtos blessedness makarismos for epi the ho circumcised peritomē alone, or ē is it also kai for epi the ho uncircumcised akrobystia? For gar we say legō, “It was to ho Abraham Abraam that ho faith pistis was credited logizomai as eis righteousness dikaiosynē.” 10 How pōs then oun was it credited logizomai to him? Was it after en he was eimi circumcised peritomē or ē before en akrobystia? It was not ou after en his circumcision peritomē but alla before en akrobystia. 11 · kai He received lambanō the sign sēmeion of circumcision peritomē as a seal sphragis of the ho righteousness dikaiosynē that he had by ho faith pistis · ho while he was still en · ho uncircumcised akrobystia, so eis that he autos would be eimi the father patēr of all pas who ho believe pisteuō but have never been circumcised dia, that eis they too kai might have righteousness dikaiosynē credited logizomai to them autos. · ho 12 He is also kai the father patēr of the circumcised peritomē who ho are not ou merely monon circumcised peritomē but alla also kai · ho walk stoicheō in the ho footsteps ichnos of the ho faith pistis that · ho our hēmeis father patēr Abraham Abraam had while he was still en uncircumcised akrobystia.

13 For gar the ho promise epangelia that he autos would be eimi heir klēronomos of kosmos the world kosmos did not ou come to ho Abraham Abraam or ē to ho his autos descendants sperma through dia the law nomos, · ho but alla through dia the righteousness dikaiosynē of faith pistis. 14 For gar if ei the ho heirs klēronomos are those who follow ek the law nomos, then faith pistis is meaningless kenoō · ho and kai the ho promise epangelia is void katargeō. 15 For gar the ho Law nomos brings about katergazomai wrath orgē, but de where hou there is eimi no ou law nomos, there can be no oude violation parabasis. 16 For dia this houtos reason the ho promise epangelia is based ek on faith pistis, that hina it may depend kata on grace charis and so eis that it may be eimi made certain bebaios to all pas his ho descendants sperma, not ou only monon to those ho who are under ek the ho law nomos, but alla also kai to those ho who share ek the faith pistis of Abraham Abraam, who hos is eimi the father patēr of us hēmeis all pas. 17 As kathōs it is written graphō, “ I have made tithēmi you sy the father patēr of many polys nations ethnos.” He is our father, in the presence katenanti of God theos in pisteuō whom hos he believed pisteuō, the ho God who gives zōiopoieō life to the ho dead nekros and kai calls kaleō into hōs being eimi the ho things that do not exist eimi. 18 Hoping elpis against epi hope elpis, Abraham hos believed pisteuō that eis he autos would become ginomai the father patēr of many polys nations ethnos according kata to what ho had been spoken legō, “ So houtōs will your sy descendants sperma be eimi.” · ho 19 · kai Not being weak astheneō in ho faith pistis, he considered katanoeō · ho his heautou own body sōma as dead nekroō ( since he was hyparchō about pou a hundred hekatontaetēs years old ), and kai the ho barrenness nekrōsis of ho Sarah’ s Sarra womb mētra. 20 He did diakrinō not ou waver diakrinō in ho unbelief apistia regarding eis · de the ho promise epangelia of ho God theos but alla was strengthened endynamoō in ho faith pistis, giving didōmi glory doxa to ho God theos, 21 · kai fully plērophoreō convinced that hoti what hos God had promised epangellomai, he was eimi also kai able dynatos to do poieō. 22 That dio is why · kai his faith was credited logizomai to him autos as eis righteousness dikaiosynē. 23 But de the statement, “ it was credited logizomai to him autos,” was not ou written graphō for dia his autos sake alone monon, 24 but alla for dia our hēmeis sake dia as kai well , to whom hos it will mellō be credited logizomai, those ho who believe pisteuō in epi the ho one who raised egeirō Jesus Iēsous · ho our hēmeis Lord kyrios from ek the dead nekros, 25 who hos was delivered paradidōmi over to death for dia · ho our hēmeis transgressions paraptōma and kai raised egeirō for dia · ho our hēmeis justification dikaiōsis.

Abraham Justified by Faith

What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, (A)our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but (B)not before God. For what does the Scripture say? (C)“Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now (D)to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but (E)believes in[a] him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

(F)“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
    and whose sins are covered;
blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not (G)count his sin.”

Is this blessing then only for (H)the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? (I)For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. 11 (J)He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was (K)to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, 12 and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

The Promise Realized Through Faith

13 For (L)the promise to Abraham and his offspring (M)that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 (N)For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For (O)the law brings wrath, but (P)where there is no law (Q)there is no transgression.

16 That is why it depends on faith, (R)in order that the promise may rest on grace and (S)be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, (T)who is the father of us all, 17 as it is written, (U)“I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, (V)who gives life to the dead and calls into existence (W)the things that do not exist. 18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, (X)“So shall your offspring be.” 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was (Y)as good as dead ((Z)since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered (AA)the barrenness[b] of Sarah's womb. 20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that (AB)God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But (AC)the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us (AD)who believe in (AE)him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 (AF)who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised (AG)for our justification.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 4:5 Or but trusts; compare verse 24
  2. Romans 4:19 Greek deadness

Abraham Justified by Faith

What then shall we say(A) that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh,(B) discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God.(C) What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”[a](D)

Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift(E) but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.(F) David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

“Blessed are those
    whose transgressions are forgiven,
    whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the one
    whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”[b](G)

Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised?(H) We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.(I) 10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! 11 And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised.(J) So then, he is the father(K) of all who believe(L) but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. 12 And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise(M) that he would be heir of the world,(N) but through the righteousness that comes by faith.(O) 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless,(P) 15 because the law brings wrath.(Q) And where there is no law there is no transgression.(R)

16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace(S) and may be guaranteed(T) to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.(U) 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”[c](V) He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life(W) to the dead and calls(X) into being things that were not.(Y)

18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations,(Z) just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”[d](AA) 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead(AB)—since he was about a hundred years old(AC)—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.(AD) 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened(AE) in his faith and gave glory to God,(AF) 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.(AG) 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”(AH) 23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us,(AI) to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him(AJ) who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.(AK) 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins(AL) and was raised to life for our justification.(AM)

Footnotes

  1. Romans 4:3 Gen. 15:6; also in verse 22
  2. Romans 4:8 Psalm 32:1,2
  3. Romans 4:17 Gen. 17:5
  4. Romans 4:18 Gen. 15:5

Abraham Justified by Faith(A)

What then shall we say that (B)Abraham our (C)father[a] has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was (D)justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? (E)“Abraham believed God, and it was [b]accounted to him for righteousness.” Now (F)to him who works, the wages are not counted [c]as grace but as debt.

David Celebrates the Same Truth

But to him who (G)does not work but believes on Him who justifies (H)the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also (I)describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

“Blessed(J) are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
And whose sins are covered;
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”

Abraham Justified Before Circumcision

Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. 11 And (K)he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that (L)he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father (M)Abraham had while still uncircumcised.

The Promise Granted Through Faith

13 For the promise that he would be the (N)heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For (O)if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, 15 because (P)the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.

16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be (Q)according to grace, (R)so that the promise might be [d]sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, (S)who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, (T)“I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, (U)who gives life to the dead and calls those (V)things which do not exist as though they did; 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, (W)“So shall your descendants be.” 19 And not being weak in faith, (X)he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), (Y)and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised (Z)He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore (AA)“it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

23 Now (AB)it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe (AC)in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 (AD)who was delivered up because of our offenses, and (AE)was raised because of our justification.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 4:1 Or (fore)father according to the flesh has found?
  2. Romans 4:3 imputed, credited, reckoned, counted
  3. Romans 4:4 according to
  4. Romans 4:16 certain